Load Bearing Tactical Vest

ABSTRACT

A load-bearing vest comprising a yoke, a core, attached to the yoke and comprising a telescoping assembly, and a waist belt, attached to the core.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the priority benefit of pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/096,658 titled “Load Bearing Tactical Vest,” filed Sep. 12, 2008 (the “Provisional Application”). The complete disclosure of the Provisional Application is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The technology relates to antiballistic systems, and more particularly to a versatile human body torso guard, that is light weight, modular in design which allows full range of motion and articulation of the shoulders and neck, including an internal frame which supports the natural spinal alignment and disperses weight placed on it (as a load bearing system). The technology benefits individual soldiers, policemen and like personnel.

The modern battlefield is more dangerous than ever. Improved munitions have dramatically increased the probability of multiple injuries to combatants. These munitions increase the number and severity of the injuries. Typical tactical vest systems are built to carry all of the soldiers equipment weight directly on the shoulders and neck of the soldiers. One effect of this is decreased range of motion, mobility, of the entire upper body as well as early fatigue, exhaustion, lack of agility, mobility and maneuverability. In summary, the heavy load the American warfighter is required to carry, while equipping him, may actually decrease his combat effectiveness. Military medical treatment shows an increasing number of injuries to soldiers originating from long term spinal load bearing, many of which have long term debilitating injuries which have caused many soldiers to be placed on limited duty, permanent profiles and even medically discharged from the army.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Twenty-one (21) figures of embodiments of the technology accompany this description.

FIGS. 1-19 illustrates embodiments of the present technology.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the technology. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the technology only, not as a limitation of the technology. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present technology without departing from the scope or spirit of the technology. For instance, features described as part of one embodiment can be used on another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present technology cover such modifications and variations that come within the scope of the technology. It is to be understood that the disclosed features and embodiments are merely exemplary of the technology that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale, and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein, and any particular combination of these details, are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the technology.

The technology relates to the carrier for the ballistic material, which is an outer shell or carrier of abrasion-, moisture- and flame-resistant pliable materials. The outer shell or carrier is provided with a series of straps and fasteners for anchoring to the torso and securing the carrier to an internal frame. The outside of the carrier shall have attached to an internal frame. The outside of the carrier shall have attached various webbing and fasteners to attach tactical gear.

The outer cover provides surface area for equipment, and the internal frame allows dispersion of this weight safely off of the shoulders and back and back onto the hips. The plate carrier rest on the front inside of the MOLLE panel, and on the back webbed onto the rear of the carrier. These components are modular in design to allow desirable placement for the user.

The technology includes a carrier for ballistic material. Pliable ballistic material can be inserted into the outer carrier and is anchored with the appropriate attachment devices. This outer carrier is two pieces, a front and a back. The back section has a set of MOLLE or other attachment devices that anchors the internal frame in place. The attachment devices are placed so that by the wearer's choice of anchors, the user can fit a medium or large sized torso.

Webbing and attachment devices are placed on the outside of the “back” allowing placement of individual gear. The front cover attaches to the frame by means of load bearing buckles at each shoulder and kept streamline to the torso by means of side release buckles on each flank. These are adjustable so that the carrier will fit a multitude of different abdominal girths without being cumbersome.

Frame includes there assemblies 1) Yoke, 2) Core, 3) Waist Belt Assembly.

1) Yoke consists of a), shoulder pads, b) main frame assembly, c) back vest drop, d) drag handle and leg straps, e) load bearing extension. 1a) shoulder pads are generally S-shaped pad fixed to the yoke at the tope lateral portion. The pads extends downward and join with 1″ webbing using a mega duck—latter lock (tension lock buckle). The section is a control for tension placed on the shoulder pads. The bottom anchors include the above 1″ webbing sewn onto the outer surface of the waist belt just forward of the position of the anterior iliac crest. 1b) main frame assembly includes a core—which is the central platform of this core. A plastic frame is made from a sheet of heavy weight plastic shaped like a big key. This provides the form and rigidity and structural support of the top of the telescoping assembly. ⅜″ carbon stays are sewn onto the lateral portion of the top to provide structural and load bearing support.

They are sewn onto the lateral portion of the fiberglass stay tube, which provides a guide for the yoke and provides stability. The waist belt anchors behind the lumbar pad, and the core slides into it. Taped carbon and recycled PET provides the guide for the shape of the belt, covered by padded foam and enveloped by an outer sheet of ⅝″ urethane and aerospacer as a breathable coating. The lateral portions of the belt are held by a flap that slides from the belt into the rear carrier to anchor it in place. The lumbar pad includes an open cell foam 8½″ tall and 5½ 7″ wide and 1″ thick. This is the bottom portion of the frame—proximal to the curve of the lumbar spine. PP ½ locks keep tension on the waist belt to the core—the pads are maintained in place.

1c) The back vest drop attaches the rear ballistic carrier attached to the adjustable yoke. It is a flap about the size of a business card located on the top medial portion of the yoke, and holds the top of the ballistic carrier in place. 1d) drag handle and leg straps is a long piece of tube webbing, attached to the top portion of the yoke with a loop at the top medial potion, but is sewn to the lateral portions of the yoke, and runs freely over the bottom portion of the yoke. The ends of the strap hang freely from the lumbar portion of the main assembly to be used as anchoring points for a leg harness similar to a civilian rappel harness. In preferred embodiments, this entire section is composed of one strong piece of tube webbing with no gaps seams or joints since it is designed to be load bearing.

1e) load bearing extension consists of 60/1 000 plastic frame sheets—re-enforced with ⅜″ carbon stays which runs the entire length of the yoke through the stay tube. 1″ webbing is attached with the loose end anchoring the load bearing straps and attachment buckles (Cobra type) over each shoulder.

Rear Ballistics Carrier consists of an 1) inner, and 2) outer pieces sewn together. 1) Inner portion of the rear carrier has material sewn to both of its sides, front and back. The piece is more centric, or closer to the body of the wearer. A plastic spade with mounted loop anchors the rear ballistic carrier to the frame. There are 2 hook and loop pockets at the lateral wings to attach to the lateral wings of the rear carrier to the waist belt. This provides tension and keeps the carrier tight and streamlined. The cut of the inner carrier is slight smaller than the outer portion of the rear carrier to allow the pieces to have a tubular effect and wrap around the wearer. A hook and loop envelope flap placed horizontally along the middle ⅓ of the bottom of the panel allows access to the inside of the ballistic carrier through this face.

2) Outer portion of the rear carrier is a single piece of fabric with 9×I″ webbing placed laterally configured to accept MOLLE type pouches. The inside face of this piece holds the Suspension system for the plate carrier. 2″ webbing runs vertically from top to bottom spaced approximately at ⅓ marks of the face. I″ webbing is sewn every inch at a 90* anchor with bar tacks on the ends to allow a MOLLE friendly type system to hang the plates onto this suspension system at the top and bottom of the plate pouch.

Front Ballistic Carrier consists of an inner and outer piece sewn together. 1) the outer portion of the front ballistic carrier is a large face holding 7×III webbing straps sewn horizontally with bar tacks on the face side to accept MOLLE friend type equipment. The lateral wings hold diagonal elastic straps to engage and stabilize the side SAPls. 2″ loop is sewn horizontally across the top of the face to access name tapes or unit designators. I″ webbing is attached to the top lateral portion of the font and extends upwards vertically off the panel to act as the load bearing straps, connecting to the frame be means of the COBRA type quick release buckles. The inner face of the pieces contains an identical suspension system to the outer face of the rear ballistic carrier described above. 2) The inside portion of the front ballistic carrier contains the hoop and loop envelop flap at the bottom horizontal access for access to the inside of the carrier.

Groin Drop is a sheet that attaches by anchoring the top of the drop to the bottom of the front ballistic carrier using a hook and loop tunnel and flap. Collar is the same size and shape as the currently used IOTVs. It straddles the top seam, anchoring to the top loop normally used for identifiers to pull the device into a curve and keep the fabric from contact with the skin.

Plate Pouches are a simple form fit bag to allow the ceramics SAPI plates to slide into. One face is covered in 1″ horizontal aligned webbing for engagement with MOLLE type devices. The other face contains the 1″ MOLLE and snap array to attach to the suspension system designed into the front and rear ballistic carriers, and onto the frame for plate carrier configurations. I″ webbing extends from the top lateral positions for use as load bearing straps in plate carrier configurations, and 1″ webbing extends from each lower lateral position to act as stabilizing straps in the same configuration. 

1. A load-bearing vest comprising: a yoke, a core, attached to the yoke and comprising a telescoping assembly, and a waist belt, attached to the core. 